Posted on 01/15/2006 4:48:17 AM PST by napscoordinator
Columns Why I'm skipping the Oscars this year Jan 13, 2006 by Ben Shapiro ( bio | archive | contact )
Every year since I was old enough to stay up late, I've watched the Academy Awards. This year, however, I have absolutely zero desire to watch the Oscars. In recent years, lack of quality from Hollywood has turned the Academy Awards into a special-interest-group get-together. If you're crazy, gay, have a disability or are a member of a minority race, you'll likely be nominated for an Oscar; if your film tackles a "deep social issue" (normally an issue dear to the hearts of Hollywood's liberal glitterati), you'll have an excellent shot at grabbing a gold statuette. The combination of declining product quality and rising Hollywood disdain for mainstream America has opened the door to the agenda-film crowd. It began with the 1994 Oscars. "Schindler's List," "The Fugitive" and "In the Name of the Father" all received Best Picture nominations; other excellent films of 1993 included "What's Eating Gilbert Grape?" "Searching for Bobby Fischer," "Shadowlands," "Fearless" and "In the Line of Fire."
Still, Hollywood had to take a shot at mainstream America, and they found their vehicle in "Philadelphia," throwing their honorary liberal activism award to Tom Hanks for his weak performance as a dying AIDS-stricken gay lawyer in "Philadelphia." Unbelievably, Hanks' cheesy hospital-bed routine beat out Liam Neeson in "Schindler's List" and Daniel Day Lewis in "In the Name of the Father." "Philadelphia" is, clinically speaking, a maudlin, ham-handed attempt at social commentary.
The remaining 1990s were filled with weak movies and weak performances. On average, high-school audio-visual clubs make better movies than Hollywood put together in the late 1990s.
Then, our illustrious decade: With great films scarce and politically mainstream Academy voters even scarcer, 2000 featured the victory of repulsive anti-suburbia and pro-homosexuality hit piece "American Beauty." Of course, it beat out a film lionizing an abortionist ("The Cider House Rules") and another attacking the tobacco industry ("The Insider"). Most disturbingly, the Academy handed Hilary Swank a Best Actress Oscar for playing a transgendered biological girl murdered by a bunch of hicks. And 2002 was the year of the African-American honorary Oscars, when Denzel Washington took home Best Actor for his decent if overrated performance in "Training Day" and Halle Berry took home Best Actress for her highly touted simulated orgasms in "Monster's Ball." In 2003, homosexual agenda films like "The Hours," "Frida" and "Far From Heaven" grabbed the largest share of nominations. In 2004, Hollywood couldn't hold off "Lord of the Rings" any longer, but Charlize Theron, playing an ugly lesbian serial killer in "Monster," won Best Actress. And last year, the Best Picture was forgettable pro-euthanasia film "Million Dollar Baby."
And then there's this year. "Brokeback Mountain," the stomach-churning story of two 1963 cowboys who get cozy while bunking down in Wyoming and then carry on their affair over the course of decades, is likely to grab Best Picture honors. The critics love it, mostly because critics love anything that pushes homosexuality as normal behavior. The New York Times raves about it, mostly because the Times has always wanted to carry a ridiculous story proclaiming that "there has always lurked a suspicion that the fastidious Eastern dude of Owen Wister's 'The Virginian' harbored stronger than proper feelings for his rough Western compadres, and that the Red River crowd may have gotten up to more than yarning by the campfire whenever Joanne Dru was not around." Maybe that's what Pinch Sulzberger thinks about when he watches John Wayne on screen, but the Times should be more careful when speaking for the rest of us. By the way, don't believe the "hit movie" hype -- this supposed blockbuster has netted a grand total of $8 million. "Hostel," last week's No. 1 movie, a cheap horror film, has already netted almost $15 million.
Best Actor honors are likely to go to Philip Seymour Hoffman for his performance in "Capote" -- this would mark the first time that an actor in a gay role has actually deserved his Oscar. Best Actress will probably fall to Reese Witherspoon in "Walk the Line," but supporters of Felicity Huffman's transgendered father/mother in "TransAmerica" could push her over the top.
Aside from pimping for GLAAD, the Oscars will provide a platform for other leftist talking points. "Good Night, and Good Luck," George Clooney's blatant attempt to bash the Bush administration through the mouth of Edward R. Murrow, and "Munich," Steven Spielberg's attempt to equate Arab terrorism with Israeli self-defense, will likely garner nominations. And to top it off, Comedy Central partisan hack Jon Stewart (who is less and less funny each day) hosts this self-congratulatory leftist feting.
I won't be watching. Neither will most Americans.
Since I totally forgot about the oscars coming up, I was going to caulk my tub today. Now I've got an excuse to put it off.....
Yes I agree. And Morgan Freeman has a great voice for narration.
Agreed. Hollywood has declined a long way from the days of John Wayne. Personally, I'd like to see another fifties type investigation of these people.
Who are they and what is their agenda? Actually I think I know the second part to this question.
You took the words right out of my mouth.
I'd rather vaccuum or do laundry that watch that self-congratulatory crap.
P.S. And the 3 year old is a penguin lover from way back and he still couldn't sit still. For Christmas he said he wanted me to get him one--a live one from the zoo. I tried to explain that you couldn't keep a live penguin like a pet then by chance, after Christmas, I disovered this site:
http://www.penguinwarehouse.com/index.php
No we won't be getting a live one--even if we could afford it.
I'm skipping the Oscars this year because I'm still bummed out that George Clooney didn't get on Kerry's election train.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1558262/posts
What are the Oscars? They're on TV?
"I do like the live FReeper Oscar thread making fun of how people look and what they say--lots of fun. So I'll probably tune in again this year and have more good times with my fellow Hollywood hating conservatives."
I feel the same way. Thank you!
As has been noted in the past the Oscar telecast is the gay superbowl. This year more so than ever.
ROTF!!! Loved that link! Hee hee. Krill flavored chew toy. Robot penguin. Gee, at a little over a couple of grand, a male emperor penguin is a steal! I know what I'm asking Mr. Mew for for Valentine's Day! The cat will just have to deal.
Do any heterosexuals - male or female - watch the Oscars?
Nice summation, these awards are just a measure of how gay, crazy, etc. these films are. I never watch these awards shows and don't plan to ever again.
LOL
mewzilla: Then we'll just have to move!
(to be continued...)
hee, hee--well if you can ever convince him, you'll definitely be unique. It would be a great conversation starter to be walking your penguin down the street. I love the little baby Emperors--they are two cute for words. I just wanted to build them a shelter though--80 degree below! Holy cow. How can anything survive that?!?
Better title if I had written the article:
Why I ALWAYS skip the Oscars.
I've never watched them. Never plan to either.
Just thought of this--he's already got his Tux ready for the show.
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